Russia reviews US and NATO responses to its security requests

Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister says the country is reviewing the US and NATO's responses to its security requests. The US has announced that it is rejecting Russia's request to bar Ukraine from NATO membership.

As the risk of Russia attacking Ukraine and escalating war increases, Russia has announced it is reviewing the US and NATO's response to its security concerns.

The United States has rejected Russian demands to block consideration of Ukraine's NATO membership, saying it is not willing to back down on the issue. NATO has also said it is ready to listen to Russia's concerns, but that Ukraine has the right to choose its own security status.

According to the German news agency, Alexander Grushko, Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia, announced on the evening of Wednesday, January 26 (February 26), that Russia is studying and examining NATO and the US's response to Russia's security concerns.

Russia has made two demands: the non-expansion of the NATO alliance to Eastern Europe, including Ukraine, and the withdrawal of all foreign military forces stationed in Eastern European countries after 1997.

NATO member states have been considering Russia's proposals for about a month and a half.

Representatives of Russia, Ukraine, France, and Germany met in Paris on Wednesday, January 26, to discuss the Ukraine crisis for about eight and a half hours. But the talks did not yield any concrete results.

The United States has again warned Russia that it will face "huge consequences" if it attacks Ukraine.

Both the United States and NATO have announced that they are not ready to negotiate over Russia's demand to end NATO's expansion into Eastern Europe.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has told Russia that there are fundamental principles that it is their duty to uphold and defend.

According to him, preserving the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and the rights of countries to choose the coalition they want to join are among these principles.

NATO has offered Russia talks to improve relations. Jens Stoltenberg, the defense alliance's secretary general, said: "We are ready to listen to Russia's concerns and to discuss how to preserve and strengthen the fundamental principles of European security."

He said that the right of all countries to choose their own path belongs to these principles.

Source: DW